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| Constantinople Patriarchate coat of arms |
True Name: Theophylaktos Lakapenos (Θεοφύλακτος Λακαπηνός)
Parents: Romanos I, emperor of Constantinople, and Theodora
Date of Birth: 917
House: Macedonia
Reign: 933 – 956
Predecessor: Tryphon
Summary: From infancy, Emperor Romanos I wished his son to be raised to the patriarchate. It was the emperor's desire to achieve this in 925 with the death of Nicholas Mystikos, but the emperor had to wait eight more years before the church would allow the boy to rule. At some point during this time, Theophylact was castrated to make him appear a more suitable candidate. Theophylact finally was elected in 933, the third son of an emperor to be elected to the post and the first elected while his father still reigned. Romanos secured the support of the Papacy and when the Macedonian dynasty fell from power in 945, Theophylact retained his post.
As patriarch, Theophylact maintained close ties with the patriarchates of Antioch and Alexandria. He sought to convert the Magyars of Hungary and he urged the emperor of Bulgaria, Peter I, to suppress the Bogomil heresy. The Bogomils sought a return to early Christianity, the destruction of the church hierarchy, and resistance to the state. Meanwhile, the patriarch committed an accidental heresy of his own by introducing theatrical elements to the Orthodox liturgy, angering many conservative clergy. Theophylact loved horses and even abandoned a service at the Hagia Sophia to be present at the birth of a mare. Tragically, a few years later he died from a fall from a horse. His patriarchate was not well remembered by his peers despite ruling for over twenty years.
As patriarch, Theophylact maintained close ties with the patriarchates of Antioch and Alexandria. He sought to convert the Magyars of Hungary and he urged the emperor of Bulgaria, Peter I, to suppress the Bogomil heresy. The Bogomils sought a return to early Christianity, the destruction of the church hierarchy, and resistance to the state. Meanwhile, the patriarch committed an accidental heresy of his own by introducing theatrical elements to the Orthodox liturgy, angering many conservative clergy. Theophylact loved horses and even abandoned a service at the Hagia Sophia to be present at the birth of a mare. Tragically, a few years later he died from a fall from a horse. His patriarchate was not well remembered by his peers despite ruling for over twenty years.
Date of Death: 27 February 956
Successor: Polyeuctus
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